Asbestos Awareness

Asbestos fibres are present in the environment in Great Britain so people are exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in.

Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels could increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000 deaths a year. There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma (which is always fatal), lung cancer (almost always fatal), asbestosis (not always fatal, but it can be very debilitating) and diffuse pleural thickening (not fatal).

This course is essential for employees whose work holds the potential to expose them to asbestos so that they are aware of the potential dangers they may face and also the procedures they must follow in the event they are working in the vicinity of asbestos containing materials. The main groups of workers that are deemed to be at risk from asbestos exposure and therefore the groups most requiring asbestos awareness training are as follows:

Electricians, Plumbers & Gas Fitters, Painters & Decorators, General Maintenance Staff, Construction & Demolition Workers, Joiners and Plasterers, Computing & Telecommunications Engineers, Heating & Ventilation Engineers, Roofers, Architects & Building Surveyors and Fire & Burglar Alarm Installers.

Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (CAR 2006) puts a requirement on employers to ensure that their staff have undergone suitable asbestos awareness training (ACMs).

Course content

The history of asbestos The properties of asbestos Products that contain asbestos How are you exposed to asbestos What are the health effects of asbestos The Legal requirements

Course Duration

This course is delivered over half a day at our training facility in Lincoln, at your organisations premises or at a convenient location for you.

Assessment and Certification

All delegates who successfully complete the course in full will be awarded the Asbestos Awareness ‘Certificate of Training’ plus a detailed handout.